Two-unit insulated bottle assembly



MaICh 1968 A. J. CLOUSER ETAL 3,371,807

TWQ'UNIT INSULATED BOTTLE ASSEMBLY Filed June a, 1966 III! INVENTORS Ann J. Clouser Nancy J. Hesser/ ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,371,807 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 3,371,807 TWO-UNIT INSULATED BOTTLE ASSEMBLY Ann J. Clouser and Nancy J. Hessert, both of RR. 1907 Sweeley Ave., Williamsport, Pa. 17701 Filed June 3, 1966, Ser. No. 555,143 5 Claims. (Cl. 215-6) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This unit invention is a two-unit insulated vacuum bottle assembly, each unit being complete in itself, with each unit having complementary means for securing the two units together, and in addition, a handle on each unit for using the unit separately, in the form of a pitcher, the handles being so arranged that they complement each other when the units are secured together and act as a single handle for the assembled units. The handles are L-shaped, the long leg of each L extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bottle assembly and terminating adjacent the bottom assembly securing ends and thus providing a substantially unitary handle for the assembled units.

,This invention relates to a two-unit insulated bottle assembly and has for an object to provide a pair of readily attachable and separable containers which, when separated, are each provided with its individual handle, and wherein the two separate handles are so located that when the containers are assembled in end-to-end relationship, the two separate handles are so positioned that they act substantially as a single handle for carrying the two assembled containers.

Multiple insulated bottle assemblies are well known in the art, wherein the bottles are assembled in top to bottom separable attachment such as in U.S. patents to Bird, No. 2,462,461 of Feb. 22, 1949, Payson, No. 2,099,174 of Nov. 16, 1937 and Stallings, No. 2,488,611 of Nov. 22, 1949, or in bottom to bottom permanent assembly, as in Koree et al., No. 1,549,269 of Aug. 11, 1925, or even in combination with a lunch box, as in Redfield, No. 1,901,534 of Mar. 14, 1933, but this invention dilfers from the prior art not only in being attachable in end to end relationship, but also in having a separate handle on each separate bottle, which separated handle enables each unit to be handled like a pitcher, and which handles, when the two units are attached together, act substantially as a single or unitary handle and enables the two unit assembly to be carried in one hand by means of the two handles so positioned together as to provide a unitary handle for the assembly.

In brief, this invention includes a pair of containers each having cooperating securing means and independent handles, whereby each container may be handled independently when separated, but which handles complement each other to provide a substantially unitary handle when the containers are secured together so that the assembled containers may be carried in one handle. The detachable securing means is preferably complementary male and female threads integral with the bottom ends of the containers. The containers are limited in size only to a size and weight that can be conveniently carried in one hand by the user, and may be food containers, and also, may as well be a jacket container having an insulated bottle, such as a vacuum insulated bottle, cushioningly supported therewith, of a type well known in the marketplace, one such type being common under the trademark Thermos as well as under numerous other trademarks.

The bottom end of each of the pair of containers is provided with quick detachable securing means, preferably complementary, such as male and female threads either integral or mounted therewith. In addition, each container has an L-shaped handle, with the short L leg extending from the side of the container and the long L leg extending substantially as far as the securing end of the container and so located with relation to the securing end means for the pair that when the containers are secured together, the bottom ends of the long L legs are closely adjacent and thus the two separate handles cooperatively provide a substantially single handle that can be grasped and carried by one hand for carrying the assembled pair of containers. The container securing means may be integral male and female threads at the bottom of the containers, or may be at either end, and may be other equivalent securing means, such as being part of the container cover, or may have securing means at the bottom of one container and at the top of the other.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the detailsof construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing the container assembly of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, on a smaller scale, of the two containers of the assembly in separated position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of FIG. 1.

There is shown at 10 the container assembly of this invention. This assembly 10 includes two separate containers 12 and 14 having cooperating, complementary securing means in the form of a male thread 16 at the bottom end of container 12 and a complementary female thread 18 at the bottom end of container 14, so that, when the threads are mated, as shown in FIG. 1, the two containers 12 and 14 form a single assembly. Secured to each container 12 and 14 is an L-shaped handle 20 and 22. Each L handle has a short L leg 24 secured to its container 12 or 14, and a long L leg 26 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of its container toward its securing end, ending substantially at or just short of the securing end.

The handles 20 and 22 are also so located in relationship to the securing means that when the securing means is fully engaged, the two handles are in such close proximity and in axial alignment with each other that they provide substantially a single handle which can be readily grasped by one hand so that the container assembly 10 may be easily carried in one hand.

Obviously, the contents of each container may be the same or may be different. When used for food (which term means both edibles and potables) the food article of one container may complement that of the other. When used for food, an interior container may be supported or carried in each container, and such interior container may be an insulated bottle, possibly a vacuum insulated bottle 28 cushioningly supported on a spool shaped rubber pad 30 on the inner side: 32 of the container bottom ends. Obviously, these vacuum bottles may be the same as those now widely distributed in the marketplace known under various trademarks. The handles act as pitcher handles when the separate containers equivalent detachable securing means may be used for holding the containers in assembled position so long as 3 they can also hold the handles in closely related position to act as a single handle.

The operation of this assembly is that one container may be used for one item of contents, and the other container for another, and usually related, item of contents. For instance, using the containers alone without the in sulated bottle illustrated, the assembly could be used in the retail trade when selling two related items. Thus chow mein could be in one container, and noodles in the other. The containers could be two rigid but inexpensive plastic containers, with handles as described, and be kept for use as pitchers or containers for other items after the original contents are consumed. When used with insulated vacuum bottles, as illustrated, one container could have soup, the other a drink such as coffee or milk.

Other examples, too numerous to enumerate, are readily apparent. When the containers are assembled together, they are easily carried by one hand. When separated, they may be opened and readily poured by their individual handles, whether the handles point toward the bottom, as illustrated or toward the top, as described.

In the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts, and for the purposes of explication, marshalled below are the numbered parts of the improved two-unit insulated bottle assembly:

-container assembly 12one separate container, with male thread 16 14other separate container, with female thread 18 16male thread l8-female thread 20one L shaped handle 22other L shaped handle 24-short L leg 2610ng L leg 28-insulated vacuum bottle 30-spool shaped rubber pad 32inner side of container bottoms Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1.. A two-unit container assembly wherein the improvement comprises a pair of separate containers, means detachably securing said containers together in end to end relationship, complementary handle means on each container, each said handle means being secured to the side of its said container and extending toward the securing end, the ends of each said handle being substantially adjacent each other providing a substantially unitary handle when said containers are secured together, each said handle means being substantially L-shaped, the short L leg extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of its container, the long L leg extending from the end of its short L leg and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said container, each long L leg having a free end terminating at the securing end of its container, said long L legs being in substantial alignment when said containers are secured together thus providing a substantially unitary handle for said assembly.

2. The assembly of claim 1, said container securing means comprising a male thread on one container and a complementary female thread on the other container.

3. The assembly of claim 1, each said container comprising a container jacket and an enclosed bottle supported therewithin, said handle means being secured on said container jacket.

4. The assembly of claim 3, each said bottle being a vacuum insulated food bottle, and bottle cushioning means inside its container jacket supporting said bottle on its container jacket bottom.

5. The assembly of claim 4, said container securing means comprising a male thread on one container jacket and a complementary female thread on the other container jacket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 200,978 4/1965 Seltz D58-8 2,239,093 4/1941 Giller 21510 2,488,611 11/1949 Stallings 215-10 2,833,436 5/1958 Roderian 215-43 X 3,163,307 12/1964 Bramming 215-13 3,169,682 2/1965 Hollingsworth 206-52X DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner. 

